Acetylene generator



p 1945. J. LA FOR-CE 8 ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Aug. 23, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALORMAL WATER LEVEL INVENTOR JEAN LAFORCE ATTORNEY Sept 18, 1945. J. LA FORCE ,3

ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Aug. 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HOPPER Will/e dosed posztzaiz INVENTOR JEAN LA FORCE ATTORNEY Patentedv Sept. 18, 1945 2,885,087 ACETYLENE GENERATOR Jean La Force, San Mateo, Calii'., ass

Union Carbide and Carbon poratlon of New York Application August 23. 1944, Serial No. 550,822

Claims.

This invention relates to acetylene generators and more particularly to a low water level interference device for the carbide feed valve of a medium-pressure acetylene generator.

The main objects of the invention are to provide a simple and reliable device which acts automatically to prevent the feeding of carbide when insufficient water or no water is present in.

the generator water shell, and is especially suitable for use in medium-pressure acetylene generators employing a spring opposed, diaphragm type carbide feed control mechanism.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view mainly in side elevation of apparatus exemplifying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-2 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a modification;

llnor Corporation, a coraway from spring guide I! of the carbide feed lever arm I. Then, with feed lock rod cam is turned to the feed position as shown in Fig. 1, car- Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in section taken on lineB-O of Fig. 4.

In accordance with the invention an interference device D comprising a float H, lever I2 and pivot is is incorporated in the carbide feed valve mechanism M used in a medium-pressure acetylene generator G. The device D serves to prevent feeding of carbide from hopper H when-insufflcient water W is present in the acetylene generator G. In case the device D itself fails to function, the generator G-is simply rendered inoperative and a safe condition prevails. The generator G comprises a spring opposed, diaphragm type carbide feed control mechanism. The purpose of the device D is to prevent any feeding of carbide when insufficient water (or no water) is present in the generator water shell.

Float Ii is rigidly attached to the lever l2 which is bifurcated and pivoted to the fulcrum pin it. A carbide feed lever arm I is likewise pivoted to the pin it, being normally actuated by the motion of a diaphragm II which is responsive to the gas pressure within the generator G. Integral with a diaphragm ring clamp I8 is a central supporting yoke H for the fulcrum pin it, the branches of the yoke and bifurcated lever being disposed at opposite sides of the arm l4. a

As shown in position N in Fig. 1, the float it rests along the surface of the indicated normal water level of the generator water shell or container S. In this position N the lever i2 is drawn bide feed valve V is capable of being actuated by the motion of the diaphragm ll transmitted through an opening spring 20 and a slotted connecting yoke 2 I.

Fig. 3 illustrates the position of the lever i2 when the water level within the generator is below normal. The combined weight of the float I I and lever I2 is increased by the lever arm pro-. portions and applied against the spring guide I8 01' the carbide feed lever arm l4. The force is sufficient to compress the opening spring 20 and prevent any movement of the carbide feed lever arm it. However, the diaphragm II is still free to move although its motion is not translated to the lever arm it due to the slot 22 and pin 23 construction of the connecting yok- 2!. This latterieature is common to "Oxweld medium pressure acetylene generators and allows the feed valve V to fall open by gravity plus the force of I that it will not float) the device D will possess the desirable feature of closing the carbide feed valve V and rendering the generator G incapable of operation. The feed lock rod cam is functions independently of the above described float interference device D. No matter what position the float H is in, the feed lock rod cam is can be rotated from the feed position to the loci: position and thereby prevent feeding of carbide.

In Fig. 1, when float II is in position N, the generator is in operation, but carbide is not being fed to the water inasmuch as the diaphragm is is holding the carbide feed lever arm I in the closed position.j In Fig. 3 the generator parts would be in position to operate were it not for the lever arm l2 preventing motion of the carbide feed leverarm I.

In some acetylene generators the diameter of the water shell or container is quite small, so that the lever arm I 2 would be too short for proper operation of the interference device D. By using a different pivot point however. as illustrated in Figs. 4-6, the invention may be adapted for use in such generators. The interference device E includes a bifurcated member 24, the prongs or tines 2B, 2! of whichare pivoted to a transverse pin 2|. The pin 28 is supported at its opposite ends by projections 21, 21 of bolts 28, 28 which secure the lower portion 30 of the clamp II in place. A bar or rung 3| is mounted across the tines 25, between the yoke i1 and arm, so that the valve V is free to be operated by the mechanism M when the rung 3| engages the yoke II, but the valve V is positively closed when the rung Si is forced against the arm [4. Connected to the member 24 is a stem 32 which is suitably bent and provided with a float Ii."

In operation, when the float I i falls to a predetermined level because the water W becomes too low, or because the float becomes heavy with lime, the rung 3| is caused to turn the arm I so as to close the valve V. Thus, the mechanism M has no further control of the valve V. However, when the float I I is supported by the water W, the rung 3i engages the yoke I! which acts as a stop, and the mechanism M functions normally to control the arm i4 and valve V, the rung 3! being held by the float Ii out of the way of the arm H. Thus, the device E only interferes with the normaloperation of the generator when insufflcient water is present or when the float itself fails.

I claim:

1. In an acetylene generator, a carbide feed.

valve. a pivoted arm connected to said valve, a carbide feed control mechanism so connected to said arm that said arm is free to turn to close said valve, and a float controlled device for turning said arm and closing said valve when the water in the generator fails to a predetermined low level, said device comprising a lever and a float arranged to operate said arm to close said valve when the float falls to such low water level.

2. In a medium-pressure acetylene generator having a water container, the combination with a carbide feed valve mechanism comprising a fulcrum pin, a carbide feed lever arm pivoted to said pin, a spring guide carried by said arm, a valve opening spring engaging one side of said guide, a slotted connecting yoke connected to said guide through said spring, and an acetylene gas pressure responsive diaphragm connected to said yoke for operating said arm against the force of said spring, of a device for preventing the feeding of carbide by said mechanism when insufllcient water is present in the generator water shell, said device comprising a lever pivoted to said pin,- a float attached to one end of said lever, the other end of said lever being engageable with the other side of said guide when said float drops below a predetermined level, so that when the float is above such level said carbide feed valve mechaassume? nism operates as usual, but when the float is below said level the engagement of said lever with the guide closes the carbide feed valve, rendering the generator incapable of operation.

3. In a medium-pressure acetylene generator having a water container, the combination with a carbide feed valve mechanism comprising a fulcrum pin, a carbide feed lever arm pivoted to said pin, a spring guide carried by said arm, a valve opening spring engaging one side of said guide, a slotted connecting yoke connected to said guide through said spring, and an acetylene gas pressure responsive diaphragm connected to said yoke for operating said arm against the force of said spring, of a device for preventing the feeding of carbide by said mechanism when insufllcient water is present in the generator water container, said device comprising a bifurcated lever pivoted to said pin at opposite sides oi. said arm, a float rigidly attached to one end of said lever, the two branches at the other end of said lever being engageable with the other side of said guide when said float drops below a predetermined level, so that when the float is above such level said carbide feed valve mechanism operates as usual, but when the float is below said level the engagement of said branches with the guide closes the carbide feed valve, rendering the generator incapable of operation.

4. The combination with a pivoted carbide feed valve arm, of a low water interference device comprising a pivoted member, means actuated by said member for operating said arm to valve-closed position, a stem connected to said member, and a float carried by said stem, said float when raised holding said means out of the way of said arm, the fall of said float to a predetermined level acting to cause said means to lock said arm in valveclosed position.

5. The combination with a yoke, and a carbide feed valve arm pivoted to said yoke, a pin, of a bifurcated member having tines pivoted to said pin. a rung mounted across said tines between said yoke and arm, a stem connected to said member, and a float connected to said stem, said float causing said rung to engage said yoke out of the way of said arm when the float is above a certain level, and said float causing said rung to engage and turn said arm to carbidevalve-closed position when the float is below a certain level.

JEAN LA FORCE. 

